Zach6668 513 Posted August 15, 2016 Share Posted August 15, 2016 You can't talk to someone on the phone. It's email based support. It's not very good imo Email is fine (ideal) but I can't even find that. Link to post Share on other sites
Babying 613 Posted August 17, 2016 Share Posted August 17, 2016 A nightmare for any Uber driver: http://www.msn.com/en-ca/news/canada/uber-driver-says-video-doesnt-tell-whole-story/ar-BBvIZIo?li=AAggNb9 Link to post Share on other sites
gruven 530 Posted August 17, 2016 Share Posted August 17, 2016 So hard to wrap my head around him uber works for anyone but th passenger. I took an uber from my house to Humber hospital. It took 45 minutes. The fare was 27$. The driver is paying for gas and probably a fair amount for data for the constantly online smartphone. She ends up in north York from Mississauga, and unless she gets a fare back that way she will have to deadhead the trip back, taking at LEAST another hour (traffic was worse westbound than eastbound). Don't get me wrong, I love uber. But doesn't seem smart do that driver. Sounds like serge is making a better go of it in Fresno. Link to post Share on other sites
Zach6668 513 Posted August 17, 2016 Share Posted August 17, 2016 So that's why a critical mass is necessary. Needs to be a good chance the driver can find a fare on the way back, or the driver jus my goes towards where to most fares tend to be. Maybe you were her fare back? Link to post Share on other sites
MapleLeafpoker 1,462 Posted August 17, 2016 Share Posted August 17, 2016 I'm with Chris, Im still having a tough time figuring out how once you put in ALL of the factors, this makes financial sense. How did the surgery go Chris? Are you just resting at home now, how long? Link to post Share on other sites
gruven 530 Posted August 17, 2016 Share Posted August 17, 2016 I'm with Chris, Im still having a tough time figuring out how once you put in ALL of the factors, this makes financial sense. How did the surgery go Chris? Are you just resting at home now, how long? surgery was good, he did more than he expected so pretty banged up right now. Probably 48 hours off my feet. Thanks for asking! Link to post Share on other sites
Zach6668 513 Posted August 17, 2016 Share Posted August 17, 2016 I'm with Chris, Im still having a tough time figuring out how once you put in ALL of the factors, this makes financial sense. How did the surgery go Chris? Are you just resting at home now, how long? Driving as a job in general always felt like a scam. When I delivered pizzas like 3 years ago, I was getting paid $7/hr plus 0.65 per delivery. I kept all my tips of course, but had to pay for gas and maintenance on my own. I kept good records and would end up averaging about $11 per hour or something. Barley minimum wage. But I also didn't factor in maintenance and wear and tear, which was huge on my pile of shit car. Link to post Share on other sites
Zach6668 513 Posted August 17, 2016 Share Posted August 17, 2016 Point is I think they get you because most people don't think to factor in the costs of driving. Not just for a job. Real life too, but we won't go there. They underestimate it since so much of it is sunk or big lump sums that occur infrequently. Link to post Share on other sites
MapleLeafpoker 1,462 Posted August 17, 2016 Share Posted August 17, 2016 Point is I think they get you because most people don't think to factor in the costs of driving. Not just for a job. Real life too, but we won't go there. They underestimate it since so much of it is sunk or big lump sums that occur infrequently. Ya, this has always been my thoughts on it too. Link to post Share on other sites
Babying 613 Posted August 17, 2016 Share Posted August 17, 2016 Driving as a job in general always felt like a scam. When I delivered pizzas like 3 years ago, I was getting paid $7/hr plus 0.65 per delivery. I kept all my tips of course, but had to pay for gas and maintenance on my own. I kept good records and would end up averaging about $11 per hour or something. Barley minimum wage. But I also didn't factor in maintenance and wear and tear, which was huge on my pile of shit car. I delivered Chinese food for many many years. I can honestly say that tips were gross. Many times it was keep the change and it was like 15 cents. Link to post Share on other sites
serge 904 Posted August 17, 2016 Author Share Posted August 17, 2016 I can only speak from my experience..Lot of the Uber drivers out there arent very experienced and not aware of all the pitfalls.. You need to be smart and efficient in your driving hours..Took me a couple of weeks to figure it out..Uber in most areas is not much better than a minimum wage job if you just look at the financials you are presented with. HOWEVER, Most drivers that do well are doing it due to guarantees and driving in high demand times..I drive less frequently in Fresno now and just drive in San Francisco area when I have time.. In San Francisco there is no downtime. Right after you drop off a rider, you get 'pinged' and its usually within a mile and 2-3 minutes away. Dead miles are minimal. Also in SF its usually surging. On top of the second highest Uber rate in the world( behind NYC) a 1.5x to 2.5x surge is pretty normal to see. Also I now get guarantees in the SF area..Just to give you an idea this week's guarantees: Friday 7-9 am $50 per hour 2pm - 5pm $35 per hour 5pm - 10pm $40 per hour 10pm - 230 am $45 per hour So for example if you drove Friday from 7-9 am in the SF area for the 2 hours you are guaranteed $100..If you make more great..If you make less they top it up.. Uber is i believe in 473 cities worldwide...Every market is very unique..For example in Fresno the rates are .80/ mile and .10 per minute...However in San Francisco its $1.15/ mile and .22 per minute....IN Nyc its $1.75 per mile... I have made my calculations and unless I am making $30 an hour plus its not worth my time based on all the hidden expenses...That is not realistic in Fresno at 1pm in the afternoon...On weekends and early morning hours its pretty doable.. Link to post Share on other sites
serge 904 Posted August 17, 2016 Author Share Posted August 17, 2016 Btw if you arent tipping your Uber driver on a short trip you really should consider doing it..The trips that are financially close to a negative return for the driver are the the short min rides that we make less than $4 on..Unfortunately with the way the technology is we dont know if you are going 2 miles or 50 miles before we start the trip..This is obviously to protect the rider...Because we would never pick up anyone going around the corner.. As a rider you might say well its not my responsibility to tip....Its now common courtesy to tip, after drivers basically fought Uber to accept tips.. Tips are a good portion of our take...Generally more people are tipping now..From $2 to several $20 tips for airport runs.. Lot of you are probably not familiar with Lyft..Lyft is a major competitor to Uber..Lyft is only available in the States and a few asian cities.It is very popular in California...Typically on most days Lyft is probably about 40-50 percent of my rides.. Lyft treats the drivers a lot better, takes a smaller cut and the main thing is it allows in app tipping... Link to post Share on other sites
serge 904 Posted August 17, 2016 Author Share Posted August 17, 2016 The interesting thing will be to see how Uber will keep up and continue to grow ...Some people have the company valued at over $60 billion..They are constantly getting huge infusion of money and from the optics they are bleeding money by the day as they try and dominate the world.. This number is just ridicolous..Uber is valued at higher than actual car companies like Honda and GM at the current valuation. If you are to believe the valuation, could essentially tech company which is an app be worth more than Costco?? Link to post Share on other sites
FCP Bob 1,312 Posted August 17, 2016 Share Posted August 17, 2016 An Expert in Valuation Says Uber Is Only Worth $28 Billion, Not $62.5 Billion Link to post Share on other sites
serge 904 Posted August 17, 2016 Author Share Posted August 17, 2016 An Expert in Valuation Says Uber Is Only Worth $28 Billion, Not $62.5 Billion I like that article. It's tough to valuate a private company exactly. Uber s challenge is to be profitable. Right now they have certain challenges. They are giving so much away and the driver turnover is so huge that they have to find an equilibrium where both rider and driver are happy at a profit. Here is an example of what they are doing. In SF I get $700 for each driver referral. Once they complete 100 rides boom $700 in my account. In other markets like Fresno it's only a $100. But with all the promotions , giveaways, incentives it's tough to be profitable. However in sure they know what they are doing. Link to post Share on other sites
serge 904 Posted August 18, 2016 Author Share Posted August 18, 2016 Drove 2 nice guys to the airport early morning. Big sports fans we talked a lot of baseball. After dropping them off i notice a wallet. One of the guys dropped it. There is about $500 in cash and all important ID and credit cards. I rush back find them and the guy is pretty happy. He gave me $20. Never once crossed my mind to keep any of cash in wallet but I'm sure there is a part of population that would. I like to think its a small number that wouldn't do what I did. Link to post Share on other sites
Babying 613 Posted August 19, 2016 Share Posted August 19, 2016 I don't know. I think there are more who would do it I found a wallet at Leaside last month while buying bagels. I dropped it off at his home but he was not home. I am guessing he was running around trying to find it Inside was about $100 and his info Another story was a hybrid car ran out of fuel on a hill. It was winter and I drove him in my suv to get gas. Did not know his girlfriend was still in the car and it was cold outside. A month latter I found a $25 gift card for gas in my office mailbox Link to post Share on other sites
gruven 530 Posted August 19, 2016 Share Posted August 19, 2016 http://mobile.reuters.com/article/idUSKCN10T2CK Link to post Share on other sites
serge 904 Posted August 19, 2016 Author Share Posted August 19, 2016 Unfortunately I'm not part of the class action. Link to post Share on other sites
gruven 530 Posted August 25, 2016 Share Posted August 25, 2016 According to Reuters, uber lost 1.26 billion in the first half of 2016 Link to post Share on other sites
serge 904 Posted August 31, 2016 Author Share Posted August 31, 2016 I am actually a part of this class action lawsuit vs Lyft...They will be settling for $27 million with drivers in California...I have no idea what I am entitled to as I came in near the end, its a complicated process of breaking up the money based on hours, averages etc.. http://www.reuters.com/article/us-lyft-lawsuit-drivers-idUSKCN0Y22PJ They said payouts could be up to $10000 for some drivers..Ill probably end up getting like $4.34.. Never been part of a class action before, its pretty interesting the process and it was pretty easy to join.. Only thing we agree to is we cant participate in further lawsuits. Link to post Share on other sites
serge 904 Posted September 10, 2016 Author Share Posted September 10, 2016 So i get a guy im driving the other day..After about 10 min conversation he says, you are Canadian arent you? Im like wtf? I m looking around to see if I am wearing any Jays or Leafs stuff, or Adrian or Mateo left a puck in the car...Nothing....He says I can tell by your accent.. I never realized I had an accent that is Canadian..Then he said it was how I said "aboot"...Sometimes I have to catch myself before using words that arent used here like washroom, pop etc...But never realized I had an accent. 1 Link to post Share on other sites
Babying 613 Posted September 10, 2016 Share Posted September 10, 2016 So i get a guy im driving the other day..After about 10 min conversation he says, you are Canadian arent you? Im like wtf? I m looking around to see if I am wearing any Jays or Leafs stuff, or Adrian or Mateo left a puck in the car...Nothing....He says I can tell by your accent.. I never realized I had an accent that is Canadian..Then he said it was how I said "aboot"...Sometimes I have to catch myself before using words that arent used here like washroom, pop etc...But never realized I had an accent. I got that when I was in Baltimore playing poker at the casino. They knew I was Canadian and said I had an accent. Link to post Share on other sites
Recommended Posts
Create an account or sign in to comment
You need to be a member in order to leave a comment
Create an account
Sign up for a new account in our community. It's easy!
Register a new accountSign in
Already have an account? Sign in here.
Sign In Now